UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  Agricultural  experiment  Station 

COLLEGE    OF    AGRICULTURE  E,    W.    HILGARD,    DIRECTOR 

BERKELEY,  CALIFORNIA 


CIRCULAR  No.  9. 

(January  4,  1904.) 


Report  on  Asparagus  Rust  Investigation 


By  RALPH   E.  SMITH, 

Plant  Pathologist. 


The  present  publication  is  not  put  forth  in  any  sense  as  a  final  or 
complete  report  upon  the  investigation  of  the  above  subject,  but  is 
intended  merely  as  a  preliminary  report,  giving  an  account  of  some 
things  which  have  been  accomplished  up  to  the  present  time,  together 
with  such  recommendations  as  seem  most  urgent  for  the  coming  season. 
Owing  to  the  rapid  spread  of  tne  asparagus  disease  and  the  swift  de- 
struction which  it  causes  when  once  established,  it  is  important  that 
growers  and  handlers  of  this  crop  should  have,  at  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity, the  benefit  of  any  new  information  of  value,  and  this  is  the 
object  of  this  circular.  While  a  great  deal  remains  to  be  done  before 
the  problem  of  combating  this  disease  can  be  said  to  have  been  satis- 
factorily solved,  many  things  have  come  to  light  already  which  will  be  of 
value  to  those  having  asparagus  fields  not  yet  ruined  by  the  rust,  or  who 
wish  advice  as  to  increasing  their  acreage.  A  complete  account  of  the 
asparagus  industry  of  California,  the  disease  which  threatens  it,  and 
the  quite  extensive  investigation  of  the  same  which  is  now  going  on, 
will  be  reserved  for  a  later  and  more  elaborate  publication. 

The  circumstances  under  which  this  investigation  is  being  carried  on, 
and  the  nature  of  the  asparagus  industry  of  this  State,  are  no  doubt 
familiar  to  most  of  those  who  will  read  this  circular.  It  need  only  be 
explained  that  certain  of  the  leading  growers,  canners,  and  handlers  of 
asparagus  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Francisco,  realizing  last  year  the  great 
danger  which  threatened  their  industry  with  the  appearance  of  the  rust, 
guaranteed  to  the  University  of  California  the  sum  of  $2,500  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  on  the  investigation  which  is  now  under  way.  Subse- 
quently, at  a  largely  attended  meeting  of  the  asparagus  interests,  a 
general  assessment  of  seventy-five  cents  per  acre  was  voted  by  the 
growers  represented,  together  with  proportionate  subscriptions  by  can- 
ners, commission  houses,  etc.     By  this  means  it  was  expected  that  a 


fund  would  be  created  sufficient  to  carry  out  a  thorough  investigation, 
extending  over  at  least  two  years  or  until  definite  results  were  obtained. 
This  assessment,  entirely  voluntary,  of  course,  has  been  met  by  many 
intelligent  growers  with  the  utmost  willingness,  and  while  the  results 
obtained  will  no  doubt  come  eventually  to  the  knowledge  of  all,  they 
are  to  be  regarded  as  peculiarly  the  property  of  those  whose  foresight 
lias  instituted  this  work.  We  suggest  to  all  growers  desiring  to  avail 
themselves  of  these  results,  both  now  and  in  the  future,  the  propriety 
of  placing  themselves  upon  an  equal  footing  with  those  who  have 
already  done  their  part. 

Nature  of  the  Disease. — The  asparagus  rust  (Puccinia  asparagi,  D.C.) 
is  a  disease  of  the  asparagus  plant  caused  by  a  fungous  parasite  of  the 
above  name,  which  attacks  the  bushy  tops  coming  up  in  summer  after 
cutting  for  market  has  ceased.  The  disease  has  no  connection  with 
any  insect,  and  while  conditions  of  weather,  moisture,  soil,  etc.,  have 
considerable  influence  upon  its  development  when  once  present,  these 
things  alone  can  never  produce  the  rust  unless  this  particular  fungus 
be  introduced  from  an  infected  locality.  The  disease  is  readily  recog- 
nized by  one  at  all  familiar  with  it,  since  its  appearance  is  very  char- 
acteristic and  the  cause  is  definitely  known  and  easily  seen. 

Fig.  1  shows  the  appearance  of  the  rust  upon  affected  plants,  illus- 
trating the  various  forms  which  it  assumes  at  different  seasons  or  under 
various  conditions.  The  large  oval  patches  upon  the  three  larger  stalks, 
particularly  the  middle  one,  represent  what  is  called  the  spring  rust. 
This  form  is  found  only  in  spring  and  early  summer,  and  consequently 
only  upon  young  beds,  old  abandoned  beds,  or  volunteer  stalks.  It  is 
often  quite  abundant  in  such  places,  more  so  here  than  in  the  East,  but 
in  itself  is  of  little  importance.  Its  worst  feature  is  the  possibility  of  the 
disease  being  carried  over  in  this  way  through  the  cutting  season.  The 
blisters  seen  upon  the  stalks  in  Fig.  1  represent  the  summer  or  red  rust, 
which  is  the  destructive  form.  This  develops  from  the  spring  rust  upon 
affected  stalks,  and,  spreading  from  this  or  other  sources  to  the  grown- 
up cutting  fields,  causes  a  premature  yellowing  of  the  tops,  breaks  out 
in  red,  powdery  blisters  all  over  the  surface  of  the  stalks,  branches,  and 
needles,  and  in  bad  cases  the  tops  are  soon  completely  killed.  Only  a 
practiced  eye  will  notice  at  first  the  red  spots  appearing  here  and  there 
among  the  thick  tops,  but  this  soon  spreads  and  a  general  yellowing  and 
premature  death  take  place.  From  the  blisters  upon  the  surface  a  red- 
dish, pollen-like  powder  escapes,  which  at  the  least  disturbance  of  the 
tops  flies  away  in  a  cloud  of  dust.  This  dust  is  composed  of  the  minute 
spores  or  germs  of  the  fungus,  its  seeds  so  to  speak,  as  it  is  a  plant 
growth;  and  to  one  who  has  walked  through  a  badly  infected  field  and 
seen  the  dust-cloud  which  arises  and  floats  away  Avith  the  wind,  the 
rapid  spread  of  the  disease  will  be  no  surprise. 


The  so-called  black  or  fall  rust  appears  particularly  at  the  end  of  the 
season,  when  the  affected  tops  turn  black.  This  may  occur  at  any 
time  during  the  season,  but  it  is  most  noticeable  in  the  fall.  The  dark 
color  is  due  to  the  black  spores  of  this  form  of  rust,  which  come  out  in 
eruptions  upon  the  surface,  as  seen  especially  on  the  small  branch  in 
Fig.  1.     It  is  in  this  form  that  the  fungus  passes  the  winter,  the  spores 


Fig.  l.    Asparagus  stems,  showing  al 


tin 


ust.  Puccinia asparagi,  D.C. 


remaining  upon  the  ground  or  on  the  remains  of  the  old  stalks,  and 
starting  again  next  spring. 

It  should  be  understood  that  these  various  forms  of  rust  are  all  stages 
of  one  and  the  same  disease,  which  it  assumes  under  various  conditions 
in  order  to  better  adapt  itself  to  such  influences.  The  red  rust  is  the 
destructive  form  ;  the  others  would  be  of  little  account  except  for  their 
carrying  the  parasite  from  one  season  to  another.  This. fungus  develops 
only  upon  living  asparagus  plants.  Similar  rusts  upon  willow,  tule, 
and  smart-weed  have  occasioned  more  or  less  alarm  among  growers,  but 


—  4  — 

they  may  rest  assured  that  there  is  not  the  slightest  danger  of  the 
infection  of  asparagus  from  these  sources.  Neither  can  the  parasite 
exist  in  the  soil  except  in  the  dormant  spore  form. 

Injury  Caused  by  the  Rust. — The  marketable  asparagus  cut  in  the 
spring  is  not  affected  directly  by  the  rust.  The  red  spots  seen  upon  the 
white  surface,  giving  the  stalks  a  rusty  appearance  and  often  becoming 
of  serious  consequence,  have  quite  a  different  cause,  which  has  been 
recently  determined  and  will  be  thoroughly  looked  into  during  the 
coming  season.  This  trouble  is  increasing  in  severity  and  is  of  consid- 
erable importance. 

The  effect  of  the  true  rust  is  seen  in  a  falling-off  in  the  yield, 
both  in  quantity  and  in  size  of  the  stalks.     The  cause  of  this  is  to  be 


Fig.  2.    Asparagus  root,  showing  condition  in  the  fall  after  severe  attack  of  rust. 

looked  for  in  the  weak  condition  of  the  roots,  caused  by  the  premature 
death  of  the  tops  in  the  preceding  year.  This  is  not  simply  a  weakness 
of  the  plant  due  to  its  interrupted  growth,  but,  with  the  dying  down  of 
the  rusted  stalks  in  the  fall,  a  decay  sets  in  at  the  base,  which  rots  out 
the  crowns,  cuts  off  the  roots  and  new  eyes,  and  soon  causes  complete 
ruin,  leaving  the  root  in  such  condition  that  only  a  few  feeble  shoots,  if 
any,  are  sent  up  in  the  spring.  This  is  the  worst  feature  of  the  rust  in 
California;  during  the  mild  winter  the  plant  is  dormant,  but  decay  of 
the  crowns  proceeds  rapidly,  so  that  a  large  part  even  of  what  growth 
was  made  by  the  affected  plant  during  the  summer  and  fall  is  lost 
before  the  beginning  of  the  next  season. 


T1h>  whole  subject  of  the  effect  upon  the  roots,  winter  condition  of  the 

rust,  etc.,  is  receiving  close  attention. 

Fig.  '1  shows  the  average  condition  of  the  crowns  in  the  fall,  in 
beds  where  the  tops  died  from  rust  and  rotted  down  to  the  base.  The 
absence  of  new  eyes  or  buds  for  next  year  will  be  noted,  and  in  such 
crowns  a  decay  is  already  started  which  will  be  much  worse  by  next 
spring. 

Fig.  3  shows  the  growth  in  a  bed  thus  affected.  Many  crowns  have 
been  killed  outright,  and  the  remainder  send  up  only  a  few  feeble 
shoots.  One  year  previous,  when  the  rust  came  into  this  bed,  the  tops 
were  as  large'and  full  as  the  growth  shown  in  Fig.  9. 

As  to  the  actual  loss  caused  by  the  rust  it  may  be  said  that  beds 
badly  rusted  one  year,  for  the  first  time,  usually  show  a  shrinkage 
(averaging  about  30  per  cent  of  the  normal)  in  the  next  year's  crop. 


Fig. 


Asparagus  fk-ld  fully  gi 


l»ut  hadlv  rusted 


The  worst  cases  have  lost  50  per  cent  the  first  year,  whichTmeant  prac- 
tical extermination.  These  figures  relate  to  beds  in  which  the  tops 
were  killed  to  the  ground  early  in  the  fall.  Attacks  coming  late  in  the 
season,  or  affecting  only  portions  of  the  top,  have  a  correspondingly 
less  effect  upon  the  yield  next  year.  No  grower  should  deceive  himself 
by  assuming  that  this  disease,  once  present  in  his  fields  or  vicinity,  will 
not  affect  the  production.  He  may  attribute  the  loss  at  first  to  a  bad 
season  or  other  causes,  or  pretend  to  hope  for  better  things  next  year 
without  effort  on  his  part,  but  history  and  experience  are  against  him. 
This  epidemic  of  asparagus  rust  has  started  on  the  Atlantic  and  has 
now   reached  the   Pacific,  and  in   no  case   has  a  bed   once  affected  ever 


—  ()  — 

come  back  to  a  production  which  would  pay  the  expense  of  cutting,  at 
California  prices.  Badly  decayed  roots  can  not  produce  a  full  crop  or 
send  up  shoots  which  do  not  exist,  no  matter  how  favorable  the  season; 
and  about  three  years  has  usually  seen  the  practical  extermination  of 
badly  affected  fields. 

How  the  Rust  Spreads. — There  are  two  possible  methods  by  which 
the  disease  may  be  disseminated:  the  spores  may  be  carried  in  the  air 
from  one  asparagus  field  to  another,  or  they  might  easily  be  transported 
upon  roots  and  seeds  from  an  affected  bed  to  other  places.  Indeed, 
when  one  observes  the  amount  of  spore-dust  flying  from  badly  rusted 
asparagus  and  clinging  to  everything  in  the  vicinity,  he  may  easily 
imagine  that  any  communication  between  affected  and  unaffected 
regions  would  probably  transfer  some  of  the  spores. 

A  study  of  the  actual  spread  of  the  disease  shows  that  by  far  the 
most  important,  if  not  the  only,  method  of  spreading  wrhich  has  occurred 
in  the  present  epidemic  is  that  through  the  air.  The  rust  was  first 
noticed  on  the  Atlantic  coast  in  the  fall  of  1896.  Year  by  year  it  pro- 
ceeded westward  from  State  to  State  in  regular  order,  being  finally 
reported  in  California  in  1902,  although  some  sections  of  this  State  must 
have  been  affected  earlier  than  that  year.  Furthermore,  the  spread  in 
this  State  has  been  regular,  so  far  as  can  be  observed,  from  south  to 
north.  The  rust  has  been  in  southern  California  for  two  or  more  years, 
at  Milpitas  at  least  two  years,  reached  Bouldin  Island  in  1902,  the 
Pearson  District  and  Sacramento  in  1903,  and  has  not  yet  arrived  at 
Marysville,  Chico,  and  the  north.  Other  points  in  the  vicinity  of  these 
places  correspond  with  the  condition  indicated.  Since  seed  and  roots 
have  been  continually  imported  from  the  East  all  over  the  State  during 
the  rust  epidemic,  there  is  little  reason  to  suppose  that  the  disease  has 
been  introduced  in  that  way.  At  any  rate  such  a  method  can  not  be 
at  all  common,  or  the  rust  would  have  appeared  here  and  there  all 
over  the  State  at  once. 

Much  more  could  be  brought  out  upon  this  point  in  a  more  extended 
discussion.  The  chief  point  is  that  at  present  the  rust  is  spreading 
about  the  State  by  the  spores  being  carried  in  the  air  from  one  bed  to 
another,,  and  nothing  can  be  done  to  prevent  it  from  so  doing.  Every 
grower  must  expect  the  disease  in  his  fields  (most  have  it  already)  and 
prepare  to  act  accordingly. 

Present  Extent  of  the  Rust  in  California. — At  the  close  of  the  season 
of  1903  the  rust  was  present  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  practically 
every  asparagus  field  of  any  importance  from  Sacramento  southward. 
Some  are  much  worse  than  others,  owing  mostly  to  having  had  the  dis- 
ease longer,  and  somewhat  from  the  effects  of  various  natural  conditions- 
As  the  disease  is  still  rapidly  spreading  and  had  last  year  reached  many 


places  (hitherto  thought  to  be  immune)  for  the  first  time  and  with 
disastrous  results,  it  will  perhaps  be  as  well  not  to  advertise  to  the 
world  the  various  degrees  of  misfortune  in  the  different  sections,  which 
no  doubt  will  soon  be  largely  equalized.  The  various  growers  are  well 
informed  as  to  the  extent  of  the  disease,  and  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that 
no  part  of  the  State  which  has  any  considerable  acreage  of  asparagus 
at  present  may  hope  to  escape  the  rust. 

Natural  Conditions  affecting  Asparagus  Rust. — It  is  gratifying  to 
announce  the  discovery  of  several  methods  by  which  the  peculiarities 
of  the  California  climate  may  be  taken  advantage  of  in  preventing  this 
disease  to  a  degree  impossible  in  any  other  asparagus-growing  State. 
This  comes  about  particularly  in  connection  with  the  dry,  rainless 
summer.  Experience  in  the  East  has  shown  to  a  considerable  extent 
the  effects  of  moisture,  both  soil  and  atmospheric,  upon  the  develop- 
ment of  the  rust.  The  Massachusetts  Experiment  Station  early  pointed 
out  the  greater  susceptibility  to  the  disease  of  asparagus  growing  upon 
light,  sandy  loams  (the  typical  Eastern  asparagus  soil),  particularly 
in  dry  seasons,  and  recommended  planting  upon  heavier  soils,  even  if 
otherwise  not  as  well  adapted  to  asparagus,  and  also  urged  the  practice 
of  irrigation  in  dry  seasons.  A  tour  of  the  Eastern  districts  at  present, 
after  seven  years  of  rust,  will  readily  convince  one  of  the  soundness  of 
this  theory. 

Another  idea  brought  out  was  that  heavy  dewfall  favored  the  disease, 
and  that  the  amount  of  rust  varied  with  the  amount  of  dew.  On 
account  of  the  general  occurrence  of  comparatively  heavy  dews  in  the 
East,  this  observation  has  never  been  of  much  practical  importance. 
In  this  connection  it  may  also  be  said  that  wherever  the  rust  has 
occurred  it  has  almost  always  been  noticed  that  asparagus  growing 
directly  under  the  shade  of  trees  remains  free-  from  the  disease  when 
that  in  the  open  is  badly  affected.  This  had  also  been  noticed  in 
California. 

In  this  State  it  is  well  known  that  great  differences  occur  as  to  sum- 
mer dews,  from  regions  where  they  are  frequent  and  heavy,  to  those 
where  there  is  absolutely  none,  a  condition  not  even  approximated  in 
the  East.  In  observing  asparagus  rust  about  the  State  the  fact  has 
been  positively  established,  that  the  amount  of  rust  varies  directly  and 
exactly  with  the  amount  of  dew,  and  that  so  long  as  there  is  little  or  no  dew 
there  can  be  no  rust.  As  applied  to  those  regions  where  practically  no 
dew  whatever  occurs  in  summer,  this  means  that  asparagus  can  be 
grown  there  with  no  danger  of  the  disease.  In  the  dry  country  about 
Fresno,  for  instance,  several  small  patches  of  asparagus  are  growing, 
free  from  rust,  while  in  a  river  bottom  near  by,  where  moisture  is 
plenty,  the  disease  is  at  its  worst.  The  same  freedom  from  rust  occurs 
in  small  asparagus  fields  in  the  Coachella  valley  near  Indio,  while  at 


Riverside  and  all  over  southwestern  California  rust  abounds.  It  is  not 
intended  by  this  to  unreservedly  recommend  such  places  for  asparagus 
culture.  Freedom  from  rust  is  only  one  factor  of  success  subordinate  to 
many  others  which  only  experience  can  test.  Furthermore,  the  present 
investigation  was  not  undertaken  to  find  hew  regions  for  asparagus,  but 
to  help  those  already  in  existence.  The  above  remarks  may,  therefore, 
be  taken  for  what  they  are  worth  to  those  interested  in  the  districts 
concerned. 

Considering  the  regions  now  devoted  to  extensive  asparagus  culture 
there  is  found  a  considerable  difference  as  to  the  amount  of  summer 
dew.  In  some  of  the  localities  adjacent  to  the  lower  end  of  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay  conditions  are  almost  as  in  the  East,  the  asparagus  tops  being 
frequently  drenched  with  dew  until  late  in  the  forenoon,  even  in 
August.  In  such  places  the  rust  becomes  abundant  on  asparagus  as 
soon  as  it  grows  up,  at  any  time  in  the  season.  This  condition  is  not 
equally  bad  in  all  the  Bay  region,  as  the  upper  portions  are  more 
exposed  to  the  trade-winds,  which  have  a  drying  effect.  Coming  to  the 
island  district,  above  the  straits  at  Port  Costa,  this  strong  west  wind 
blows  almost  steadily  during  midsummer  over  the  country  between 
Mount  Diablo  and  the  Livermore  hills  on  the  southwest,  and  the  Mon- 
tezuma hills  on  the  northeast.  It  is  strongest  and  most  constant  in  the 
range  of  Antioch,  Brentwood,  and  Sherman  and  Jersey  islands,  well 
sustained  at  Andrus  and  Bouldin  islands,  and  considerably  weaker,  but 
by  no  means  lacking,  from  upper  Grand  Island  up  to  Sacramento. 

Continued  observation  has  shown  that  in  this  wind  there  is  more 
help  for  the  asparagus-growers  in  the  sections  mentioned  than  in  any 
other  one  factor  now  known.  Although  lying  so  low  as  to  require  pro- 
tection by  extensive  levees,  mostly  below  the  river  level,  these  islands 
and  adjacent  country  have  a  comparatively  dry  atmosphere  in  summer, 
owing  to  the  prevailing  wind.  The  amount  of  irrigation  has,  of  course, 
an  important  local  influence,  and  this  and  the  matter  of  windbreaks 
are  of  foremost  importance  in  respect  to  the  rust. 

Most  of  the  existing  plantations  of  asparagus  are  just  inside  the 
levees,  heavily  irrigated,  and  sheltered  by  willows  and  bends  and  coves 
in  the  levee.  These  places  have  proven  in  almost  every  case  to  be  the 
starting  points  of  the  rust. 

Fig.  4  shows  just  what  is  meant.  In  such  corners,  sheltered  by  wil- 
lows on  the  west,  dew  is  quite  abundant  and  the  rust  gets  a  vigorous 
start,  often  three  or  four  weeks  before  appearing  out  in  the  open.  The 
advisability  of  avoiding  such  places  is  therefore  obvious.  The  cutting- 
1 1 <nr  a  of  all  willows  and  other  growth  forming  such  shelter  is  most 
strongly  urged.  Nothing  so  simple  and  at  the  same  time  so  effective  in 
checking  the  rust  can  be  done.  Besides  this,  all  low  spots  should  be 
avoided  in  planting  new  beds,  as  these  also  favor  dew  and  give  the  rust 
an  earlv  start. 


Another  important  feature  is  seen  in  the  direction  of  the  rows  and 
their  distance  apart.  Fields  with  rows  running  north  and  south  (across 
the  wind)  rust  considerably  sooner  on  the  sheltered,  east  side  of  each 
row  than  those  in  which  the  rows  run  with  the  wind  so  that  it  can  blow 
down  the  roAV  on  either  side.  For  the  same  reason  it  is  advisable  to 
plant  the  rows  ten  feet  apart  in  this  windy  country,  to  secure  the  full 
benefit.  Repeated  demonstrations  prove  conclusively  that  by  planting 
a  little  back  from  the  levee,  in  level,  open  country,  keeping  down  all 
windbreaks  and  running  the  rows  as  described,  the  rust  can  be  held 
back  at  least  a  month  in  the  river  district.  Were  it  not  for  the  old 
beds  with  their  sheltered  corners  starting  the  infection  long  before  it 


Fig.    4.      Corner  of   asparagus  field  in  island  district,  sheltered  on  north  and  west. 
Typical  starting-place  of  rust. 

would  otherwise  occur,  this  would  be  even  more  effective,  and  growers 
are  urged  to  grub  out  such  places  as  soon  as  they  become  affected,  or, 
better  than  nothing,  keep  the  tops  cut  in  summer. 

The  matter  of  irrigation  is  also  very  important.  In  much  of  the  river 
country  water  is  applied  abundantly  and  often  excessively  all  through 
the  summer.  For  the  prevention  of  dew  and  the  resulting  rust  the  less 
irrigation  after  cutting  ceases  the  better.  A  good  wetting  up  to  July 
first,  followed  by  thorough  cultivation  through  the  season,  will  carry 
through  any  of  this  land  and  keep  the  top  of  the  ground  dry.  Dryness 
of  the  soil  is  also  desirable  in  this  region,  in  order  to  check  the  contin- 
ual coming  up  of  the  new  shoots,  which  goes  on  all  through  the  fall. 

Fig.  5  shows  a  method  by  which  the  rust  may  be  absolutely  pre- 
vented,  but,    of    course,    is    not    applicable    to   commercial   asparagus 


—  10  — 

growing.  This  consists  of  a  simple  cheesecloth  tent  placed  over  the 
bed  when  cutting  stops.  In  regions  of  heavy  dew  two  thicknesses  of 
the  cloth  wTill  be  required  to  prevent  the  rust  entirely.  The  present 
scarcity  of  healthy  asparagus  roots  for  planting  suggests  the  use  of  such 
a  method  in  seed-beds,  where  at  comparatively  small  expense  plants 
free  from  rust  could  be  easily  produced. 

The  Bay  regions  where  dew  is  abundant  have  an  asparagus  soil  of  a 
sedimentary  nature,  wet  in  winter  and  usually  heavily  irrigated  in  the 
cutting  season,  but  quickly  drying  out  in  summer.  Many  of  these 
beds  are  given  little  attention  after  the  cutting  season,  and  become 
choked  with  weeds  and  extremely  dry.  Here  the  conditions  existing 
in  the  East  come  to  light.  Moisture  being  abundant  in  the  air,  heavy 
dews  are  frequent  and  remain  late  in  the  forenoon,  even  on  the  driest 


Fig.  5.  Tent  over  asparagus;  a  rust  preventive. 

soil.  Here  are  repeated  the  conditions  wdiich  occur  in  New  Jersey, 
eastern  Massachusetts,  and  Long  Island;  the  plants  suffer  for  water  (in 
the  soil),  while  the  rust  spores  find  an  abundance  (in  the  air).  Conse- 
quently, the  parasite  thrives  upon  the  weakness  of  the  plant.  In  every 
case  observed  in  this  district  the  wettest  beds  remained  green  the 
longest,  while  good  cultivation  helped  out  in  no  small  degree.  The 
next  figure  (Fig.  6)  shows  a  striking  case  where 'the  plants  next  the 
'  ditch  were  green  and  vigorous  long  after  those  farther  back  were  dead 
with  rust. 

Irrigation  alone  will  not  suffice  to  save  these  beds  from  rust,  but' will 
be  of  great  assistance.  It  should  be  resorted  to,  however,  only  in  the 
district  about  Milpitas  and  Alviso,  or  wherever  the  dews  are  heavy  all 
summer  and  the  winds  uncertain.  Without  dew  no  amount  of  dry- 
ness in  the  soil  can  bring  about  rust. 


—  11  — 

Nature  of  the  Soil  m  Rdntion  to  the  Rust. — Along  this  same  line  it 
should  be  said,  in  addition  to  the  above,  that,  other  things  being  equal, 
asparagus  on  the  more  substantial  sedimentary  soils  has  shown  more 
resistance  to  the  disease  than  that  upon  pure  peat.  The  latter  takes 
up  large  amounts  of  water  and  produces  a  quick-growing,  tender,  suc- 
culent asparagus  very  desirable  in  canning;  but  this  type  appears  to 
have  little  stamina  and  more  easily  succumbs  to  the  rust  than  that  on 
solid,  sedimentary  ground,  although  the  difference  is  not  very  great. 
Furthermore,  in  the  peat  soils  the  asparagus  roots  decay  more  rapidly, 
and  the  destruction  wrought  by  the  disease  is  thus  more  sudden  and 


Fig.  G.    Effects  of  irrigation  in  Milpitas  district. 

complete  than  elsewhere.     Beds  on  this  soil  are  naturally  shorter-lived 
than  on  sediment. 


Varieties  of  Asparagus  as  related  to  the  Rust  Problem.— Of  the  various 
varieties  of  asparagus  commonly  grown  it  may  be  stated  conservatively 
that  some  are  considerably  less  susceptible  to  the  rust  than  others, 
although  no  one  is  by  any  means  "rust-proof,"  as  is  sometimes  claimed. 
The  experience  in  the  East  has  been,  that  in  the  first  violent  epidemic 
of  rust  ,all  varieties  were  badly  affected,  but  that  after  a  few  years  the 
resistant  qualities  of  certain  kinds  became  more  and  more  pronounced. 
Much  more  difference  in  the  various  varieties  appears  there  now  than 
in  California,  or  than  was  perceptible  there  a  few  years  ago.  The 
choice  of  varieties  is,  therefore,  of  more  importance  in   planting  new 


—  12  — 

beds  than  can  be  judged  from  the  condition  of  the  various  kinds  in  the 
old  ones.  This  part  of  the  question  is  complicated  in  California  by  the 
requirements  of  the  canning  industry,  since  very  few  varieties  are 
suitable  for  producing  the  "extra  white"  quality  for  which  the  State  has 
become  famous. 

Palmetto.  As  to  rust-resistant  qualities,  this  variety  and  the  next 
mentioned  are  somewhat  less  affected  and  considerably  less  injured 
than  any  others  now  cultivated  in  this  country.  The  Palmetto  is  not 
very  desirable  in  canning,  however,  on  account  of  the  yellowish  color 
when  cooked  and  its  somewhat  coarse  texture. 

French,  or  Argent euil,  appears  to  be  equal  to  the  last  in  resistant 
qualities,  but  becomes  darker  colored  when  cooked  and  is,  therefore, 
more  objectionable  for  canning  white  asparagus. 

Barr's  Mammoth  is  somewhat  more  affected  than  the  foregoing,  but 
less  so  than  some  others.  It  is  desirable  to  a  limited  extent  in  supply- 
ing the  demand  for  very  large  stalks,  but  otherwise  is  coarse  and  of 
poor  quality,  while  its  rust-resistant  qualities  are  very  slight.  The 
shape  of  the  stalks  is  also  undesirable,  particularly  for  bunching. 

Conover's  Colossal  is  the  canning  asparagus,  being  productive,  of 
good  size  and  flavor,  tender,  and  of  finest  color  as  grown  in  the  best 
districts,  but  unfortunately  it  is  one  of  the  most  susceptible  to  rust. 
In  the  Eastern  districts,  where  this  variety  was  formerly  grown  exclu- 
sively, it  is  now  completely  exterminated. 

Moore's  Cross-Bred  quickly  succumbs  to  the  disease,  and  has  nothing 
to  recommend  it  under  present  conditions. 

Columbian  White,  a  sport  from  the  Conover,  seems  to  be  the  most 
susceptible  of  all  varieties  to  the  rust. 

For  the  present  planting  the  Palmetto  must  be  the  first  choice.  It 
has  good  size  and  productiveness,  less  pounds  to  the  acre  but  fewer 
stalks  to  the  pound,  and,  therefore,  cheaper  to  cut  and  pack  than  the 
Conover,  is  of  fair  flavor,  strong  growth,  and  has  considerable  rust 
resistance,  which  appears  to  become  more  pronounced  in  fields  put  out 
after  the  rust  epidemic  has  started.  When  cooked  it  takes  a  yellowish 
color  and  in  unskillful  hands  sometimes  becomes  nearly  black  in  the 
can,  which  is  very  objectionable  to  those  desiring  an  extra  white 
asparagus.  Moreover,  it  possesses  neither  the  delicate  flavor  nor  texture 
of  the  Conover,  but  since  the  latter  has  been  exterminated  in  the  East 
and  is  going  very  rapidly  in  this  State,  its  extensive  planting  can  not 
at  present  be  recommended.  Palmetto  and  Argenteuil  are  now  prac- 
tically the  only  varieties  existing  in  the  East,  all  the  new  beds  being 
of  these  varieties,  with  the  preference,  among  those  who  have  both,  in 
favor  of  the  former.  For  fresh  asparagus  there  is  little  choice  between 
them,  although  the  Palmetto  is  by  some  considered  rather  more  pro- 
ductive than  the  Argenteuil.     For  canning,  the  color  of  the  latter  is 


—  13  — 

more  objectionable,  so  far  as  limited  tests  have  shown,  than  that  of  the 
Palmetto. 

Efforts  are  being  made  to  obtain  or  produce  a  desirable  canning 
variety  of  greater  rust-resistant  qualities.  To  this  end  seed  has  been 
saved  from  individual  plants  showing  desirable  features,  and  all 
European  varieties  obtainable  are  being  imported.  In  this  way  it  is 
expected  to  obtain  the  most  rust-resistant  variety -possible  which  will 
be  suited  to  our  requirements.  It  must  be  said,  however,  that  white 
y  asparagus  and  rust-resistance  are  at  the  opposite  extremes  of  nature's 
intentions.  Whatever  is  developed  in  this  way  will  be  turned  over  to 
the  growers  who  have  supported  this  investigation. 

As  to  the  Time  of  Cutting  Asparagus. — Much  attention  should  be  paid 
to  the  important  matter  of  cutting  asparagus,  both  in  regard  to  the  crop 
in  the  spring  and  to  removing  the  tops  in  the  fall.  Ordinarily,  the 
spring  cutting  continues  until  the  middle  or  last  of  June;  the  tops  then 
grow  up  and  remain  until  killed  by  frost  in  late  November  or  December. 
There  is  room  for  considerable  latitude  in  this  respect,  and  this  should 
be  carefully  considered  in  relation  to  the  rust.  In  all  the  asparagus 
regions  the  spring  months  are  moist  and  favorable  to  the  disease. 
Spring  rust  develops  very  commonly  upon  all  asparagus  not  cut,  and 
is  abundant  everywhere  at  the  end  of  the  cutting  season  upon  volun- 
teer growth  or  uncut  beds.  Could  such  growths  be  entirely  suppressed 
in  whole  districts,  there  is  no  question  that  the  rust  would  thereby  be 
much  hindered  in  its  development.  The  important  point  to  determine 
is  whether  all  the  summer  rust  on  the  cutting  fields  spreads  from  spring 
rust  on  volunteer,  etc.,  or  whether  the  spores  of  the  fungus  from  one 
year,  after  being  in  the  soil  over  winter,  persist  long  enough  the  next 
season  to  infect  the  beds  after  cutting  has  stopped,  without  going  on  to 
the  volunteer.  Here  are  several  months  when  it  would  not  be  impos- 
sible to  prevent  practically  all  growth  of  asparagus  above  ground  in 
large  districts,  if  by  so  doing  we  could  be  sure  of  profitable  results. 

This  point  is  being  carefully  studied,  and  it  is  hoped  that  another 
year's  experience  will  show  just  how  the  rust  passes  from  December  of 
one  year  to  July  of  the  next.  Meantime,  as  it  has  been  shown  beyond 
doubt  in  the  past  season  that  volunteer  or  wild  growrth  near  an  aspara- 
gus field  often  gives  the  rust  several  weeks  start  in  the  adjacent  portion 
when  it  grows  up,  it  is  strongly  recommended  that  the  growth  of  all  aspar- 
agus above  ground  previous  to  when  cutting  stops  he  suppressed  as  much  as 
possible,  and  that  about  a  week  before  the  end  of  the  cutting  season  all 
tops  which  have  been  growing  up  to  that  time  be  cut  off  close  to  the 
ground,  or  if  possible  grubbed  out  by  the  roots,  and  burned.  This  will 
not  entirely  prevent  the  rust,  but  in  many  beds  having  a  fringe  of 
volunteer  around  the  edges  or  any  spring  growth   in   the  vicinity,  the 


—  14  — 

disease  in  the  past  season  could  have  been  set  back  several  weeks  by  this 
means. 

The  time  when  the  cutting  season  should  stop  is  of  great  impor- 
tance. Theoretically,  of  course,  the  earlier  the  tops  are  allowed  to 
grow  up  the  better  growth  they  will  make,  but  if  they  come  up  only  to 
be  killed  at  once  by  rust  little  or  nothing  will  be  gained.  For  this 
reason  it  is  of  little  use  in  the  Milpitas  section  to  recommend  any 
change  from  the  ordinary  practice  until  we  are  able  to  protect  the  tops 
from  rust  to  some  extent  by  artificial  means.  With  the  great  preva- 
lence of  the  disease  there  in  June  and  July,  part  of  the  beds  coming 
up  early  would  only  serve  to  start  the  rust  and  spread  it  at  once  to  the 
others  when  they  come  on.     If  the  present  experiments  in   preventing 


Fk 


Rusted  asparagus,  showing  green  at  bottom. 


the  rust  by  artificial  treatment  prove  as  successful  as  they  now  promise 
to  be,  then  a  short  cutting  season  wrill  be  very  advisable  in  this  sec- 
tion to  recuperate  the  affected  beds;  but  under  present  conditions  little 
profit  can  be  hoped  for  by  such  a  practice. 

Growers  in  the  river  country  are  urged  very  strongly  to  stop  cutting 
this  year  by  June  first  and  to  let  the  tops  grow  up.  Here  there  is 
little  danger  of  rust,  except  in  the  moist,  sheltered,  or  low  places,  until 
nearly  October,  and  this  great  natural  advantage  should  be  made  use 
of  to  the  utmost.  In  four  months  the  plants  can  make  a  mature  growth, 
ripen  their  berries,  and  become  much  less  susceptible  to  injury  by  the 
disease,  whereas  those  cut  until  July  are  caught  before  maturity  and 
are  badly  injured.     The  continual  growing  up  of  new  shoots  in  the 


—  15  — 

moist  soil  of  much  of  this  district  has  been  previously  alluded  to  and 
should  be  prevented  as  much  as  possible  by  withholding  irrigation  after 
July  first. 

The  matter  of  cutting  the  tops  early  in  the  season  when  badly  rusted 
has  received  attention  all  over  the  country,  and  the  conclusion  is 
unanimous  that  this  is  worse  than  useless.  Early  cutting  stimulates 
the  roots  to  send  up  new  tops,  which,  coming  up  fresh  and  tender  just 
at  the  most  rusty  time  of  year,  draw  largely  on  the  reserve  strength  of 
the  roots,  soon  become  rusty  again,  and  thus  the  plant  receives  a  double 


Fig.  8.     Block 


Uotreau 

asparagus  treated  in  various  ways  in  center  of  large  field. 


attack  of  the  disease  instead  of  one.  In  most  cases  in  this  State  the 
tops  are  not  at  first  affected  completely  to  the  ground,  but  the  shade  of 
the  upper  part  protects  the  lower,  so  that  about  six  inches  of  green 
brush  remains  for  a  long  time  just  above  ground,  as  shown  in  Fig.  7. 
This  naturally  is  of  much  benefit  to  the  roots,  and  so  long  as  any  green 
remains  at  the  bottom  the  tops  should  not  be  cut.  At  the  end  of  the 
season,  usually  in  November,  the  last  green  parts  succumb  and  the  stem 
turns  black  and  rots  down  to  the  crown,  falling  into  a  state  of  soft,  mushy 
decay,  instead  of  drying  away  as  it  should  normally.  At  this  time  the 
tops  should  be  cut  off,  before  the  condition  just  described  becomes  gen- 


—  16  — 

eral.  In  neglected,  uncultivated  fields  the  tops  when  rusted  die  down 
clear  to  the  base  very  early,  but  in  beds  properly  taken  care  of  this 
rarely  takes  place  before  November.  A  great  difference  in  next  year's 
crop  will  be  made  whether  the  stems  rot  down  to  the  crown  from  the 
rust,  or  are  kept  green  at  the  butt  and  are  cut  off  in  time  to  die  out 
naturally,  but  no  sooner  than  is  necessary. 

Treatment  by  Spraying,  Etc. — The  subject  of  treating  asparagus  for 
the  rust  by  spraying  and  similar  methods  has  received  and  is  receiving 
much  attention  in  this  work.  The  only  treatment  at  all  successful, 
hitherto  devised,  that  of  spraying  the  tops  with  the  Bordeaux  mixture 
at  frequent  intervals  through  the  summer,  has  been  thoroughly  tested, 
along  with  many  other  methods  of  a  similar  nature.  While  several 
different  liquid  sprays  have  been  found  which  produce  a  decided  dif- 
ference in  the  amount  of  rust,  the  difficulty  and  expense  of  spraying 
asparagus  tops  thoroughly  and  with  only  partial  success  at  the  best, 
give  little  hope  of  any  such  treatment  ever  becoming  profitable  in  our 
large  California  fields.  The  same  conclusion  has  been  reached  in  the 
East.  A  full  report  of  spraying  experiments  will  be  given  in  a  later 
publication. 

Fig.  8  shows  the  corner  of  one  of  the  experiment  plots,  in  which  it 
can  be  seen  that  there  is  considerably  more  foliage  than  in  the  remain- 
der of  the  field. 

In  Figs.  9  and  10  are  represented  the  results,  on  a  small  scale,  of  the 
most  successful  and  seemingly  practical  method  of  treatment  thus  far 
devised.  Fig.  9  shows  the  side  of  a  treated  row,  while  in  Fig.  10  is 
represented  an  adjoining  untreated  row  directly  opposite.  When  it  is 
considered  that  the  row  in  Fig.  9  was  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  tops 
in  the  condition  shown  in  Fig.  10,  and  to  the  right  in  Fig.  8,  being  in 
the  midst  of  hundreds  of  acres  of  the  worst  rusted  asparagus  in  the 
State  at  the  time,  it  must  at  least  be  concluded  that  this  is  worthy  of 
more  extended  trial.  The  method  is  cheap  and  practical  of  application, 
but  will  not  be  made  public  until  more  thoroughly  tested  on  a  large 
scale  by  the  growers  who  are  supporting  this  investigation.  All  such 
will  be  given  an  opportunity  to  try  this  treatment  at  the  proper  time 
during  the  coming  season. 

Disinfection  of  Seed  and  Roots. — Many  inquiries  have  come  in  as  to 
the  necessity  or  advisability  of  disinfecting  asparagus  seed  and  young 
roots  before  planting,  and  in  regard  to  putting  out  plants  which  have 
already  been  affected  with  rust  in  the  seed-bed.  The  matter  of  disin- 
fecting healthy  seed  or  roots  is  of  little  importance  at  present,  no  matter 
from  whence  they  come  or  how  thoroughly  the  operation  might  be 
done,  as  the  disease  is  now  so  generally  distributed  and  spreads  so 


—  18  — 

rapidly  that  there  is  no  hope  of  keeping  it  out  from  any  locality  where 
conditions  are  favorable.  It  is  much  more  important  to  obtain  seed 
from  healthy  stock  in  order  that  the  young  plants  may  be  as  vigorous 
as  possible.  The  danger  of  the  seed  being; from  weak  and  prematurely 
matured  or  rusted  plants  is  greater  than  that  of  transporting  the  rust 
itself.  The  same  is  true  in  regard  to  roots,  as  many  seed-beds  become 
badly  rusted  the  first  year  and  the  plants  thus  greatly  weakened,  and 
no  doubt  many  such  are  put  on  the  market.  Those  planting  exten- 
sively should  insist  on  seeing  the  plants  in  the  fall  before  the  tops  are 
cut.  or  get  reliable  information  as  to  the  same,  and  plant  nothing  which 
was  badly  affected  early  in  the  season.  Plants  which  have  had  no 
rust  whatever  are  by  far  the  most  desirable,  but  in  the  present  scarcity 
these  are  not  obtainable  in  large  quantities.  The  fact  that  the  tops 
were  somewhat  rusty  need  not  condemn  the  roots  entirely  for  planting, 
as  it  has  never  appeared  that  the  disease  enters  the  roots  or  is  carried 
in  that  way.  .  The  size  and  vigor  of  the  plants  should  be  the  guide,  in 
so  far  as  this  corresponds  with  the  rustiness  of  the  tops.  Each  grower 
must  judge  for  himself  in  this  respect,  keeping  in  mind  that  the  danger 
of  the  disease  being  in  the  roots  is  very  slight,  but  that  success  will 
depend  very  much  upon  strength  and  vigor  at  the  start. 

Fertilizing  the  Soil. — The  application  of  various  fertilizers  to  asparagus 
for  the  purpose  of  making  it  more  resistant  to  the  rust  has  been  tried 
quite  extensively  in  the  East.  No  success  has  been  obtained  in  respect 
to  any  particular  substance  having  a  decided  effect  upon  the  disease, 
and  observations  in  this  State  lead  to  the  same  conclusion.  Most  of  the 
asparagus  grown  on  a  large  scale  in  California  receives  no  fertilizer 
whatever  except  the  application  of  barnyard  manure  in  some  localities. 
Nitrate  of  soda  is  also  coming  into  use  to  a  limited  extent.  While  most 
of  the  asparagus  soils  are  of  great  natural  fertility  and  produce  large 
crops,  a  dressing  of  manure  is  to  be  recommended  in  every  case  where 
it  can  be  readily  procured,  as  by  this  means  the  plants  are  invigorated 
and  the  production  increased,  although  no  direct  effects  upon  the  rust 
can  be  seen.  Nitrate  of  soda  is  of  value  in  hastening  and  stimulating 
the  crop  and  is  to  be  recommended  to  those  cutting  especially  for  the 
early  market,  or  on  exhausted  beds.  Its  benefits  are  not  lasting,  and 
those  cutting  through  a  long  canning  season  appear  to  have  received 
but  little  benefit  in  applying  this  substance. 

In  general,  it  may  be  said  that  growers  should  aim  to  keep  their  beds 
in  as  vigorous  a  condition  as  possible  by  good  cultivation  and  whatever 
fertilizing  seems  practical  under  local  conditions.  In  this  way  the 
diseased  beds  may  be  kept  up  longer  than  they  would  otherwise  last, 
and  new  ones  will  have  more  general  vigor  and  resistance.  Clean 
cultivation  seems  to  be  much  more  effective  on  most  of  our  asparagus 
soils  than  fertilizers. 


—  19  — 

Parasites  on  the  Rust. — Several  parasites  affecting  the  rust  fungus 
have  been  observed  in  the  East,  and  these  also  occur  here;  but  appar- 
ently have  little  effect  upon  the  disease,  although  in  the  course  of  several 
years  they  may  reduce  it  somewhat.  There  has  developed,  however, 
during  the  past  season  in  some  fields  of  this  State,  a  mould-like  fungus 
parasite  not  known  in  the  East,  which  gives  the  greatest  promise  of 
checking  the  rust  very  materially  if  it  can  be  developed  in  abun- 
dance and  generally  introduced.  This  parasite  is  certainly  much  more 
effective  than  anything  hitherto  recorded,  and  great  efforts  will  be  made 
to  encourage  and  spread  its  development  as  much  as  possible. 

.  It  may  also  be  mentioned  in  this  connection  that  the  asparagus  rust 
has  been  known  for  a  century  in  Europe,  but  causes  no  material  damage 
there  now.     The  reason  for  this  condition  wrould  be  well  worth  knowing. 

The  Present  Outlook. — In  general,  it  may  be  said  that  the  asparagus- 
canning  industry  is  at  present  in  a  critical  condition,  and  only  a  deter- 
mined effort  on  the  part  of  those  interested  in  the  business  can 
prevent  its  falling  into  a  condition  where  it  will  cease  to  be  of  profit  or 
importance.  This  conclusion  is  reached  not  simply  from  the  brief  his- 
tory of  the  rust  in  this  State,  but  from  a  knowledge  and  observation  of 
what  has  happened  in  every  asparagus-canning  section  in  the  country 
during  the  past  seven  years.  Unquestionably  a  large  acreage  of  old 
beds  is  already  lost,  and  growers,  canners,  and  handlers  of  asparagus 
generally  should  prepare  themselves  to  expect  some  short  crops  and 
more  or  less  readjustment  of  the  business.  Prices  are  bound  to  rise, 
the  demand  will  increase  as  the  supply  decreases,  but  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction will  become  greater,  labor  troubles  will  come  in,  and  the 
asparagus  business  will  probably  never  again  be  what  it  has  been  in 
this  State  for  easy  profits.  Growers  who  can  readily  substitute  some 
other  fairly  profitable  crop  for  their  asparagus  are  advised  to  begin  to 
do  so,  as  it  may  prove  much  to  their  advantage.  This  applies  particu- 
larly to  those  with  a  small  acreage  of  valuable  land  who  can  not  readily 
start  new  beds  of  asparagus.  Persons  of  no  experience  in  growing  the 
crop  who  are  thinking  of  planting  any  considerable  acreage,  attracted 
by  the  profits  of  the  business  in  the  past,  are  most  strongly  advised  not 
Ao  do  so.  The  day  of  bonanza  asparagus  farming  has  passed  and  only 
)  the  thorough  knowledge  and  experience  of  the  specialist  can  hope  to 
/cope  Avith  present  conditions. 

The  grower  who  is  largely  interested  in  asparagus,  thoroughly 
familiar  with  its  exigencies,  and  equipped  particularly  for  growing  this 
crop  as  a  specialty,  is  advised  to  continue  planting  as  largely  as  seems 
to  him  advisable,  under  the  methods  herein  described.  His  best  hope 
is  for  the  future.  Old  beds  now  seriously  affected  are  beyond  saving 
by  any  means  and  can  at  best  only  be  expected  to  bridge  over  the  time 


—  20  — 

necessary  for  starting  new  ones.  It  is  hoped  that  the  results  of  the 
present  work  will  make  it  possible  to  thus  start  anew  with  fair  pros- 
pects of  success,  but  this  will  only  be  attained  by  close  attention  to 
every  detail.  The  haphazard,  "spread  eagle"  methods  hitherto  so 
largely  in  vogue  have  had  their  day.  The  following  remarks  from 
Professor  Halsted,  of  the  New  Jersey  Experiment  Station,  the  leading 
authority  upon  asparagus  rust,  are  worth  quoting  in  this  connection  : 
"The  best  growers  are  taking  better  care  of  the  fields  than  formerly, 
and  this  has  resulted  in  their  favor.  *  *  *  The  threatening  enemy 
has  led  to  a  more  careful  consideration  of  their  fields  on  the  part  of  the 
better  class  of  growers,  while  the  careless  have  in  many  cases  turned 
their  attention  to  less  exacting  crops.  *  *  *  In  so  far  as  the  rust 
has  brought  about  a  more  rational  treatment  it  has  been  a  lasting 
benefit  to  the  best  class  of  asparagus-growers." 

Canners  and  handlers  of  asparagus  should  realize  fully  the  danger 
which  threatens  to  curtail  or  even  ruin  their  business.  Should  any 
have  doubts  of  this  they  have  only  to  turn  to  the  East  for  an  example. 
While  under  no  obligations  to  make  unnecessary  or  unreasonable  con- 
cessions, they  may  rest  assured  that  unless  the  condition  of  the  grower 
is  met  by  them  in  a  broad  and  fair-minded  manner,  keeping  in  touch 
with  new  conditions  as  they  arise,  the  end  of  the  asparagus-canning 
business  is  in  sight.  The  readjustment  which  is  bound  to  come  must 
be  appreciated  and  shared  in  by  all  alike. 

The  work  of  this  investigation  is  going  on  continuously,  occupying 
practically  the  entire  attention  of  the  writer,  and  will  continue  as 
extensively  as  possible  during  the  coming  season,  when  it  is  hoped  that 
much  further  advance  may  be  made.  As  all  the  growers  interested  can 
not  often  be  seen  in  person,  the  present  circular  is  issued  as  a  report 
of  progress,  and  each  one  who  has  helped  to  support  the  work  may  be 
certain  that  his  interests  will  be  fully  considered  and  should  feel  at 
liberty  to  call  for  any  particular  advice  or  assistance  which  he  may 
desire. 


Printed  at  the  State  Printing  Office,  Sacramento,  W.  W.  Shannon,  Superintendent. 


